#NoMoreStolenSisters: Recognizing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

(NATIONAL) Last year, more than five thousand Native American and Indigenous women went missing in the United States. 

While advocates have worked to raise awareness, protection and justice for Indigenous women and girls for many years, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) was first formally declared on May 5, 2018. 

Virtual events and in-person events are ongoing this week for the National Week of Action for Missing and Indigenous Women to empower communities and inspire action.

VNN has previously reported on two MMIW cases in Oklahoma. The case of Britney Tiger and the case of Faith Lindsey. Families are still pursuing justice in both of those cases to this day.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists murder as the third leading cause of death for Indigenous women. 

In 2022, The Crime Report called MMIW “A Crisis Ignored”. 

Despite the numbers released by The National Crime Information Center, experts say it’s most likely an undercount of how many Indigenous women are actually missing. 

Choctaw Nation Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. recently penned an article stating tackling the epidemic of missing and murdered Native women and girls is an imperative issue that demands mutual respect and collaboration in working together with tribal nations. 

“Currently, in the United States, there are nearly 23,000 people reported missing from tribal lands,” Austin said. “Of those, approximately 700 are reported missing from Oklahoma, according to data from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Let that sink in for a moment. Someone’s daughter, son, husband, wife, brother or sister vanishes without a trace.”

People are encouraged to wear red on May 5 to honor and remember thousands of MMIW. 

More resources for MMIW advocacy can be found at the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) (nativehope.org)